Nathan Aké

Nathan Benjamin Aké (born 18 February 1995) is a Dutch professional footballer who plays as a defender for Premier League club Manchester City and the Netherlands national team. Mainly a centre-back, Aké can also operate as a left-back.[4]

Nathan Aké
Aké playing for Manchester City in 2023
Personal information
Full name Nathan Benjamin Aké[1]
Date of birth (1995-02-18) 18 February 1995[2]
Place of birth The Hague, Netherlands
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
 Manchester City
Number 6
Youth career
2003–2007 ADO Den Haag
2007–2011 Feyenoord
2011–2012 Chelsea
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012–2017 Chelsea 7 (0)
2015 → Reading (loan) 5 (0)
2015–2016 → Watford (loan) 24 (1)
2016–2017 → AFC Bournemouth (loan) 10 (3)
2017–2020 AFC Bournemouth 105 (8)
2020– Manchester City 57 (5)
International career‡
2009–2010 Netherlands U15 5 (0)
2010–2011 Netherlands U16 6 (3)
2011–2012 Netherlands U17 27 (3)
2012–2013 Netherlands U19 8 (3)
2013–2016 Netherlands U21 22 (2)
2017– Netherlands 42 (5)
Medal record
Representing  Netherlands
UEFA Nations League
Runner-up2019
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:02, 8 October 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:41, 16 October 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Early career

Aké agreed to join the Chelsea youth system from Feyenoord in 2010 at age 15.[5] He had played at Feyenoord since age 12 after joining the club from ADO Den Haag.[6]

Aké made his Premier League debut on 26 December 2012 against Norwich City as a 17-year-old, replacing Juan Mata in added time at the end of a 1–0 win at Carrow Road.[7] He made his first start for the club in the FA Cup on 27 February 2013 in a 2–0 win against Championship team Middlesbrough.[8] He was chosen to start in a defensive midfield position for Chelsea in the second leg of their UEFA Europa League quarter-final clash with Rubin Kazan in Russia on 11 April, a match that finished in a 3–2 loss but resulted in a 5–4 aggregate victory.[9] Aké was an unused substitute for Chelsea in the Europa League final against Benfica at the Amsterdam Arena on 16 May, which Chelsea won 2–1.[10] He was voted Chelsea's Young Player of the Year on 16 May,[11] and made his first Premier League start three days later in the 2–1 win against Everton at Stamford Bridge on the last matchday of the season.

On 8 August 2013, Aké signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea, lasting until 2018.[12] Following his permanent promotion to the first team, on 21 October 2014, Aké made his UEFA Champions League debut from the substitutes' bench, coming into the match for Cesc Fàbregas in the 60th minute during a 6–0 home win over Maribor, and provided an assist for Eden Hazard's second goal.[13]

Loan spells
Aké training with Watford in 2015

On 25 March 2015, Aké was loaned to Championship club Reading for one month,[14] making his first of five appearances against Cardiff City in a 1–1 draw ten days later.[15] Although he only made one league appearance for Chelsea the entire season, as a substitute in a 3–0 loss at West Bromwich Albion on 18 May,[16] manager José Mourinho said Aké would receive a winner's medal for his contribution to the team that season.[17]

On 14 August 2015, Aké completed a season-long loan move to newly promoted Premier League club Watford,[18] after having signed a new five-year contract with Chelsea.[19] Eleven days later, he made his debut for the Hornets in a League Cup second round match against Preston North End, which ended in a 1–0 defeat for his team.[20] Aké played his first Premier League match coming off the substitutes' bench against Newcastle United 19 September 2015, helping Watford hold on for a 2–1 win.[21] He scored his first senior goal on 20 December, opening a 3–0 win over Liverpool at Vicarage Road in the fourth minute, after goalkeeper Ádám Bogdán dropped a corner kick.[22]

During his time with the Hertfordshire side, manager Quique Sánchez Flores primarily deployed Aké as a left-back.[23] His performance and work ethic earned him Watford's Young Player of the Season award.[24]

On 29 June 2016, Aké joined AFC Bournemouth on loan for the 2016–17 season.[25] On 21 August, he made his Bournemouth debut in a 1–0 away defeat against West Ham United, replacing Jordon Ibe following teammate Harry Arter's dismissal after a challenge on Cheikhou Kouyaté.[26] Following the defeat to West Ham, Aké made his full debut against Morecambe in the second round of the EFL Cup on 24 August.[27] On 19 November, in his first Premier League start, Aké scored his first goal for Bournemouth in a 1–0 away victory over Stoke City.[28]

On 4 December 2016, Bournemouth played Liverpool and overturned a 3–1 deficit with 15 minutes to go to win the match 4–3; Aké scoring the winning goal in the 93rd minute, his third Premier League goal and the second against Liverpool.[29]

Return to Chelsea

Aké was recalled by Chelsea on 8 January 2017,[30] making his first appearance for the club since the recall on 28 January in a 4–0 FA Cup fourth round victory over fellow West London club Brentford.[31] He was also selected to start in Chelsea's 2–0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the fifth round of the same competition on 18 February.[32]

On 22 April 2017, Aké started alongside David Luiz and César Azpilicueta in central defence in Chelsea's 4–2 FA Cup semi-final victory over rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium.[33]

AFC Bournemouth

On 30 June 2017, Aké signed a contract with Premier League club Bournemouth on a permanent basis for a club record of £20 million transfer fee, with the player officially re-joining the club the following day, when the 2017 transfer window opened.[34] On 21 July, it was reported his former club Chelsea had inserted a buy-back clause for Aké in his transfer contract.[35]

Manchester City

On 5 August 2020, Aké signed for Manchester City on a five-year contract for £41 million.[36][37] He started and debuted in City's first game of the season on 21 September, winning 3–1 against Wolverhampton Wanderers away from home in the Premier League.[38] On 27 September 2020, he scored his first goal for City in a 2–5 home defeat against Leicester City.[39] On 3 November 2020, Aké made his Champions League debut for City in a 3–0 home win over Olympiacos in the group stage.[40]

Aké scored his first Champions League goal on 15 September 2021 in a 6–3 win against RB Leipzig. He revealed afterwards that his father, who had been terminally ill, had died shortly after the time he scored.[41]

On 10 June 2023, he was selected in the starting line-up for Manchester City in the Champions League final against Inter Milan,[42] which his club won 1–0 to complete their continental treble.[43] A month later, on 29 July, he extended his contract until 2027.[44]

On 28 September 2023, Aké captained Manchester City for the first time in a 1–0 defeat against Newcastle United in the 3rd round of the Carabao Cup.[45]

International career

Aké has represented the Netherlands at every youth level since his under-15 debut in 2009, making 54 appearances in total.[46] He has captained both the U17 and the U19 teams. Aké was selected into both squads that won the UEFA European Under-17 Championships in 2011 and 2012 in Serbia and in Slovenia, respectively.[47]

Aké was also eligible to represent the Ivory Coast through his father Moise.[48]

Aké made his senior international debut in 2017 in a friendly against Morocco, who were beaten 1–2 by the Netherlands.[49]

Style of play

Aké has been praised for his versatility, good passing range, reading the game quite well, being able to play at both full-back, centre-back and in defensive midfield, which has been attributed to a good work ethic, professionalism and gifted technique. His calmness on the ball and appearance have led to comparisons to former Dutch international player Ruud Gullit.[50]

Aké is a strong and physical defender who is comfortable in one-on-one situations and is adept at making tackles and interceptions.[51][52][53][54] He is also strong in the air and is capable of winning aerial duels in both boxes.[51][53][54][55] Ake's reading of the game is another key part of his style of play, and he is often in the right position to make crucial blocks and clearances.[51][52][53][55]

Personal life

Aké was born in The Hague, South Holland.[56] His father, Moise Ake, is from the Ivory Coast, while his mother, Ineke Telder, is Dutch.[57][58][59] Aké is a teetotaller.[60]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 8 October 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Chelsea 2012–13[61] Premier League 3010002[lower-alpha 1]00060
2013–14[62] Premier League 10000000—10
2014–15[63] Premier League 1010201[lower-alpha 2]0—50
2016–17[64] Premier League 203000——50
Total 7050203000170
Reading (loan) 2014–15[63] Championship 50————50
Watford (loan) 2015–16[65] Premier League 2413010——281
AFC Bournemouth (loan) 2016–17[64] Premier League 1030020——123
AFC Bournemouth 2017–18[66] Premier League 3821010——402
2018–19[67] Premier League 3840010——394
2019–20[68] Premier League 2921000——302
Total 115112040——12111
Manchester City 2020–21[69] Premier League 10100102[lower-alpha 2]0—131
2021–22[70] Premier League 14250106[lower-alpha 2]11[lower-alpha 3]0273
2022–23[71] Premier League 26131318[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 3]0413
2023–24[72] Premier League 7100102[lower-alpha 2]01[lower-alpha 4]0111
Total 575816118130928
Career total 208171811312113026320
  1. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance in FA Community Shield
  4. Appearance in UEFA Super Cup

International
As of match played 16 October 2023[73]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Netherlands 201750
201851
201931
202060
202140
2022111
202382
Total425
As of match played 16 October 2023
Netherlands score listed first, score column indicates score after each Aké goal.[73]
List of international goals scored by Nathan Aké
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
14 June 2018Juventus Stadium, Turin, Italy7 Italy1–11–1Friendly[74]
219 November 2019Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands13 Estonia2–05–0UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying[75]
326 March 2022Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam, Netherlands21 Denmark2–14–2Friendly[76]
427 March 2023De Kuip, Rotterdam, Netherlands36 Gibraltar2–03–0UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying[77]
53–0

Honours

Chelsea

Manchester City

Netherlands U17

Individual

References
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